A Croatia Airlines Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 aircraft (registered 9A-CQF) operating from Zagreb to the Belgian capital yesterday afternoon suffered landing gear problems on approach at Brussels Airport. Upon approaching the runway, the gear was unable to properly lock and the pilots decided to make a go-around, entering a holding pattern above Antwerp. Following several holding patterns, the aircraft headed back towards Brussels Airport and landed after pilots performed an alternative pull-out procedure. Passengers were told to adopt the brace position and the aircraft was unable to taxi to its parking position upon landing. “Shortly before landing at Brussels Airport we made a go-around, we were being told that the landing gear didn’t safely lock and eventually the pilots told us that they were going to land at Brussels. The flight attendant was quite upset and told us to adopt the brace position for landing. After landing, the aircraft was unable to taxi, so we waited another 45 minutes inside the aircraft”, a passenger said. In a statement, Croatia Airlines noted, “There was a landing gear issue on the Dash 8 Q400 aircraft. In accordance with operating measures, the pilots used an alternative pull-out procedure which was successfully performed. All 58 passengers safely landed at Brussels Airport. The safety of the passengers and crew wasn’t at any time in danger since the crew strictly adhered to to operational procedures”.

The subsequent return flight to Zagreb was cancelled with passengers provided alternative transport. In 2013, a Croatia Airlines Dash 8 landed in Zurich without its nose gear. The turboprop aircraft has had a history of landing gear issues, forcing its Canadian manufacturer to temporarily ground all Dash 8s with over 10.000 flights in October of last year. Last month, a LOT Polish Airlines flights from Krakow to Warsaw landed without its nose gear after it was unable to properly lock.